January Sermon Series: Resisting Evil, Injustice and Oppression in 2020

Created by Chris Jorgensen and Omaha clergy colleagues. Free to use or adapt

A group of six Omaha-area Reconciling (or actively discerning) churches have joined together to promote a shared sermon series in January 2020. We will all share advertising/promoting, based on our United Methodist baptismal covenant.

January 5 (Epiphany)
Theme: RESIST

  • What does it mean to resist evil? How do we resist evil, injustice, and oppression?
  • What does that have to do with baptism?

January 12
Theme: EVIL, INJUSTICE, and OPPRESSION

  • How do you identify evil, injustice, and oppression?
  • Sometimes it is not as obvious as the Massacre of the Innocents.
  • Maybe sometimes it is, but we just don’t want to see it because of how it benefits us.
  • Do we overlook the Massacre of the Innocents because our hero Jesus survived by fleeing to Egypt?

Scripture: Massacre of the Innocents

January 19 
Theme: IN WHATEVER FORMS THEY PRESENT THEMSELVES

  • The subtlety of evil, injustice, and oppression: microaggressions, garden variety discrimination, systemic issues.
  • Welcoming versus actually affirming and giving voice & power to newcomers.
  • How can our efforts to affirm and include go beyond just welcoming?
  • How do we bear fruit that shows deep repentance instead of just pay lip service to including all?

Scripture: John the Baptist

January 26
Theme: JOYFUL RESISTANCE

  • Sustaining resistance, resilience, eschatology, joy.

Scripture: Magnificat

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We are employing shared branding inspired by the design of the baptismal covenant t-shirts . We will be advertising on NPR, posting 120 fliers around the city, and distributing 4,500 invitation cards. Each invitation card is personalized for each individual church to include congregation-specific events on the back side of the card. We plan to resist the harm being done to LGBTQIA+ people inside and outside of the church by growing our inclusive and affirming congregations through invitation to people who might be interested in joining God's work of love and justice.

Because the collaborating churches are part of the same district network, we were eligible for funding via a conference Network Grant.

Recent Updates

Resist Harm Movement Gains Momentum toward General Conference 2024
Growing numbers of United Methodists are actively resisting the harm caused by anti-LGBTQ+ policies and practices of the United Methodist Church. With three months until General Conference convenes in Charlotte, North Carolina, the movement is making a difference in communities across the denomination, and for our direction as a United Methodist Church.  As we prepare […]
A Message to the UMC: Resist Harm
In the wake of a postponed General Conference and a continued pandemic, we are urgently called again to the work of Christ – in all the ways we can. Ever more clearly, we discern the disconnect between the logistics of our gathering and the call of the gospel.  The institutional fight to enshrine anti-LGBTQ+ policies […]
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Latest Resources

February Worship Planning Worksheet
We invite you to incorporate the work of resisting harm into the worship life of your church or group.  This worksheet is a tool for use by individuals or groups, as a starting point for finding ways to incorporate #ResistHarm into regular Sunday worship, small group meetings, or vigils and special services; it includes some starting points, […]
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With a commitment to spiritual and theological depth and the centering of marginalized experiences, conversations, and communities, enfleshed seeks to provide liturgy, devotionals, curriculum, preaching, training, and pastoral care that addresses honestly, tenderly, and directly, the beauty and pain of living enfleshed lives.
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The Hymn Society has edited and shares this free volume of hymns affirming the LGBTQIA2S+ community. Visit their site to download.
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